Roger McGuinn's 1966 Rickenbacker Model 370-12 'BYRD'

“In my opinion, the Byrds’ sound would have been impossible without the invention of the Rickenbacker twelve string electric guitar.”   -- Roger McGuinn

This natural finished Rickenbacker 370-12 was ordered new by Roger McGuinn with custom factory controls of his specification, commonly referred to among Rickenbacker collectors as the 'BYRD' model. This was the only Rickenbacker 12 string Roger McGuinn owned and used from June of 1966, when this instrument was completed, until early 1971. All of The Byrds live appearances and recordings during this period bearing the signature Byrds Rickenbacker sound and look feature this instrument.

Live Events Include:
Monterey Pop Festival, Newport Pop Festivals (1968 pictured below), Fillmore East, Fillmore West, Holland Pop Festival (featured in the concert film Stamping Ground), and all other live appearances into March, 1971.

Television Appearances include:
American Bandstand, Drop In, Playboy After Dark, Popside, Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Top of The Pops, The Tonight Show, Where The Action Is, and others...

Recording Appearances include:
This guitar appeared on all sessions between July 28, 1966 and January 26, 1971 that feature Roger McGuinn on electric 12 string. Highlights include the singles So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star, My Back Pages, and Chestnut Mare. LPs include Younger Than Yesterday, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde, Ballad of Easy Rider,(Untitled), and Byrdmaniax. Roger owned the guitar another eight years following these documented uses, so it may appear on other recordings from early 1971 until 1979, although we have to date found no photographic evidence of it's use after March of 1971.

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Roger added a mini switch to the instrument to turn on and off a Vox Treble Booster, the circuit of which he wired into the instrument. This mini switch can be seen between the two factory installed toggle switches. Roger removed the Treble Booster circuit prior to selling the guitar. Roger also changed the tuners, in what photographic evidence suggests was late1969, from the factory installed Klusons to a set of gold Grovers, which remain on the guitar to this day. A set of original 1960s knobs, as well as the remaining two replacements Roger had on the guitar, are included. The guitar itself is in the same condition as when Roger parted with it 25 years ago.

The original silver hard shell case is stenciled with the touring insignia 'BYRDS' and 'FRAGILE.' Pictured above left is the case. Above right is a photo of Roger in the studio taken in 1970. Note the 'FRAGILE' stencil on the end of the case, and the 'backward' Grover tuners.

Included in this auction lot is a fragment of a 1970 Byrds set list. This list appears to have been written by road manager Jim Seiter, with corrections by McGuinn himself. There is an arrow on the back of the guitar pointing to one of the two output jacks. It was done with the same type of green marker used to write out the included set list fragment.

2004 is the 40th Anniversary of The Byrds.
Roger McGuinn was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Byrds in 1991.